John Powell - The Second Disc

The Weekend Stream: May 24, 2026

May 24, 2026 by The Second Disc | No Comments

Welcome back to another edition of The Weekend Stream, The Second Disc’s review of notable catalogue titles making digital debuts, plus new works from legacy acts and even some personally curated favorites. Rare George Michael remixes, late period a-ha and more Andy Partridge demos are kicking off another great week of streaming tunes – including three new soundtracks from theme park attractions! George Michael, “Monkey” (Columbia/Legacy) (Apple / Amazon) The latest of the Faith-era digital EPs is here, and it’s a corker: these 1988 remixes of “Monkey” by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis helped…

Categories:

The Weekend Stream

Formats:

Digital Download, Digital Streaming

Genres:

Country, Disco/Dance, Folk, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, Rock, Soundtracks

Tags:

Andy Partridge, Billy Stritch, Billy Walker, Bruce Broughton, Clodagh Rodgers, George Michael, Jerry Goldsmith, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, John Powell, Nina Simone, Randy Newman, Reba McEntire, Smashing Pumpkins, XTC, a-ha

Japan Reissue Round-Up: “Wicked: The Soundtrack,” Bruce Springsteen, Simon and Garfunkel

January 6, 2026 by Joe Marchese | 2 Comments

Today, we’re taking a look at three unique 2025 reissues from Japan! Back on December 5, we shared news that John Powell and Stephen Schwartz’s instrumental score to the blockbuster sequel Wicked: For Good had received a physical release on 2 CDs or 2 LPs whereas their work on the 2024 first film was only issued digitally and on limited-edition vinyl. Over in Japan, however, it’s a horse of a different color. Universal Japan, Republic, and Verve have released a deluxe 2CD edition of Wicked including both an expanded edition of Schwartz’s…

Categories:

News

Formats:

CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, SACD, Vinyl

Genres:

Classic Rock, Pop, Soundtracks

Tags:

Ariana Grande, Bruce Springsteen, Cynthia Erivo, John Powell, Simon and Garfunkel, Stephen Schwartz

Release Round-Up: Week of December 5

December 5, 2025 by The Second Disc | 1 Comment

Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up, featuring a selection of the new titles out today! As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Judy Collins, The ’60s Singles (Second Disc/Real Gone) CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music Judy Blue Eyes Vinyl LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Real Gone Music Judy Collins’ The ’60s Singles brings together, for the first time, the remarkable array of 45s on which the singer’s discography was built. With songs by Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Randy Newman, Sandy Denny, Eric Andersen, and Joni Mitchell – including the international smash “Both…

Categories:

Release Round-Up

Formats:

Blu-Ray Audio, CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl

Genres:

Cast Recordings, Classic Rock, Folk, Funk, Holiday, Jazz, Latin, Pop, Popular Standards/Vocal, Rock, Soundtracks

Feel the Force: Disney to Release Japanese Box Set of ‘Star Wars’ Music with TV Scores Making CD Debuts

March 24, 2025 by Mike Duquette | 2 Comments

Fans making the pilgrimage to next month’s Star Wars Celebration event in Japan can keep an eye out for a new box set fitting in perfectly with the country’s commitment to music on CD. Available in limited quantities during the event at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City, Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025: Original Soundtrack Box Set brings together scores from 23 films and television series in the universe created by writer/director George Lucas, with exclusively designed artwork. While none of the material is previously unreleased, roughly half the material has never been released…

Categories:

News

Formats:

Box Sets, CD

Genres:

Soundtracks

Tags:

John Powell, John Williams, Michael Giacchino

Soundtrack Watch: Varese Gives Hell and Fire with Latest CD Club Titles

February 26, 2024 by Mike Duquette | No Comments

Varese Sarabande’s two newest limited edition CD Club titles will set score lovers afire, in more ways than one. First up, the label finishes their expansions of John Powell’s beloved scores to the animated How to Train Your Dragon trilogy. Based on the children’s books of the same name, the DreamWorks-produced series told the story of a misfit Viking named Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) who learns to lead the island of Berk – like his father before him – with the help of a dragon named Toothless. The series earned acclaim for…

Categories:

News

Formats:

CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming

Genres:

Soundtracks

Tags:

Danny Elfman, John Powell

Soundtrack Watch: La-La Land, Intrada Deliver Archival Scores Beyond the Stars

November 8, 2023 by Mike Duquette | 1 Comment

With only weeks to go before La-La Land’s typically huge Black Friday announcement, it’s worth noting an incredible clutch of archival score reissues and premieres that have been released over the last two months. Here’s a look at some recent releases – including one on vinyl – coming from La-La Land Records and Intrada. La-La Land Records: Trek, Scarface and Jason Some box set breakouts and a rare foray into vinyl have lit up LLL’s release slate this fall. First up, second and third installments of the label’s Star Trek: The Original Series –…

Categories:

News

Formats:

CD, Vinyl

Genres:

Soundtracks

Tags:

Alexander Courage, Giorgio Moroder, Hans Zimmer, Harry Manfredini, James Horner, John Powell, John Williams

The Weekend Stream: August 5, 2023

August 5, 2023 by Mike Duquette | No Comments

Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there’s plenty of great new/old music to float you into the weekend. From New Age to New Wave to creepy sound effects, children of famous songwriters and a whole lot more, there’s a lot to enjoy. ABC, The Lexicon of Love (Steven Wilson Stereo and Instrumental Remixes) (Mercury/UMC) (iTunes / Amazon) The 40th anniversary vinyl box of The Lexicon of Love is finally available – but if you just wanted to…

Categories:

The Weekend Stream

Formats:

Digital Download, Digital Streaming

Genres:

Disco/Dance, Electronic, Everything Else, Jazz, Pop, Rap/Hip-Hop, Rock, Soundtracks

Tags:

ABC, Anthony Newley, Chuck Mangione, De La Soul, John Powell, John Williams, Liz Story, Pulp, Thom Bell

The Weekend Stream: August 20, 2022

August 20, 2022 by Mike Duquette | 2 Comments

Welcome to The Weekend Stream, a relaxing weekly review of notable digital-only catalogue titles. There may be no CD or vinyl, but there’s plenty of great new/old music to discover! A short but sweet release week has jazz, soundtracks and a lost pop record from one of the best-loved rock frontmen of the last few decades. Max Q, Max Q (Golden Rebel) (iTunes) INXS may have announced some activity around the 40th anniversary of their classic Shabooh Shoobah this fall (more on that as we keep confirming information about the band’s plans)…

Categories:

The Weekend Stream

Formats:

Digital Download, Digital Streaming

Genres:

Country, Jazz, R&B/Soul, Rock, Soundtracks

Tags:

"Weird Al" Yankovic, Bill Anderson, Dolly Parton, INXS, John Powell, Marvin Gaye, Mel Tormé, The Manhattans

Soundtrack Watch: La-La Land Goes ‘Top Secret,’ Varese Unveils New Titles, John Williams Teams with Anne-Sophie Mutter Again

March 18, 2022 by Mike Duquette | 1 Comment

The last few weeks have seen some fine deluxe soundtrack reissues from two of our favorite film score labels – as well as another album project from the genre’s greatest living luminary. La-La Land Records has aimed for the funny bone with a brilliant new expansion of Maurice Jarre’s score to Top Secret! The 1984 comedy from the Zucker Brothers and Jim Abrahams – only their second big screen effort as writer-directors after the blockbuster Airplane! four years earlier (plus the brilliant ill-received Police Squad!, later adapted into The Naked Gun trilogy)…

Categories:

News

Formats:

CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming, Vinyl

Genres:

Soundtracks

Tags:

Eric Clapton, John Powell, John Williams, Maurice Jarre, Michael Kamen

Smuggler’s Blues: ‘Star Wars’ Spin-Off ‘Solo’ Gets Mondo Vinyl Release, Digital Expanded Soundtrack

December 1, 2020 by The Second Disc | No Comments

2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story sharply divided fans and Star Wars aficionados. The film, chronicling the early years of Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Lando Calrissian, endured a bumpy – and very public – road to theatres that saw original directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (The Lego Movie, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) replaced by veteran Ron Howard. But while reviews were mixed on the film, one crucial element consistently earned well-deserved recognition: John Powell’s score. In recent weeks, an expanded edition of the original soundtrack came to digital download and streaming…

Categories:

News

Formats:

Digital Download, Digital Streaming

Genres:

Soundtracks

Tags:

John Powell, John Williams

Soundtrack Watch: An October Harvest from Intrada, Varese, La-La Land

October 30, 2020 by The Second Disc | No Comments

October is thick with not only great archival horror soundtracks, but favorites from all genres! Let’s dive in to eight great film score reissues from this past month. Intrada rolled out titles from three iconic composers. This week sees an expansion of the late James Horner’s score to The Land Before Time (1988). The second collaboration between animator Don Bluth and producer Steven Spielberg (this time with George Lucas in tow) told the story of a group of juvenile dinosaurs roaming the prehistoric Earth in search of safety. Known to ’90s kids…

Categories:

News

Formats:

Genres:

Soundtracks

Tags:

Bill Conti, Dave Davies, Diana Ross, Harry Manfredini, James Horner, Jerry Goldsmith, John Carpenter, John Powell, John Williams

Soundtrack Watch: September Slates for Varese, La-La Land, Intrada

September 22, 2020 by Mike Duquette | 1 Comment

September was an unusually bountiful month for archival soundtracks, and we’re here to break it all down. Varese Goes West, Revisits Buddy Holly The latest title in Varese Sarabande’s CD Club was an expansion of Elmer Bernstein’s heroic score to the 1999 blockbuster Wild Wild West. Though the film somewhat infamously broke co-star Will Smith’s ironclad grip on the July 4 weekend box office after star turns in Independence Day (1996) and Men In Black (1997), the weird cult charm of this adaptation of the CBS spy-cum-Western show is hard to ignore….

Categories:

News

Formats:

CD, Vinyl

Genres:

Classic Rock, Rock, Soundtracks

Tags:

Buddy Holly, Elmer Bernstein, James Horner, John Powell, Little Richard, Michael Kamen

Saturday On My Mind: Varese Has Easybeats, Moody Blues, “Dark Shadows” and More For Record Store Day

April 12, 2016 by Joe Marchese | 3 Comments

Vampires! Dragons! Keanu Reeves! Plus two revered pop-rock classics: Varese Sarabande has a little bit of everything on its five-title Record Store Day slate arriving this Saturday, April 16, in finer independent stores everywhere. Record Store Day may take place on a Saturday, but thanks to The Easybeats, it’s a Good Friday. Varese has the first-ever U.S. release of the Australian band’s debut U.K. album originally issued on United Artists Records. Good Friday was issued in the U.S. as Friday on My Mind after the album’s hit single, a Top 20 hit…

Categories:

News

Formats:

Vinyl

Genres:

Classic Rock, Pop, Rock, Soundtracks

Tags:

John Powell, Record Store Day, Robert Cobert, The Easybeats, The Moody Blues